Shutdown Corner

Bears use special teams’ trickery in win over Vikings (VIDEO)

During the Chicago Bears' 28-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings, special teams coordinator Dave Toub pulled some trickery for the Bears to score two on the extra point. After Michael Bush ran for a one-yard touchdown, punter Adam Podlesh lined up as the holder for Robbie Gould. But instead of holding it as Gould kicked, Podlesh picked up the ball and ran it in for two.

It's easy to dismiss this as a trick play, but it was more than that. Toub saw a weakness in the Vikings' special teams and found a way to exploit it. It wasn't the only big play for the Bears' special teams unit, as Julius Peppers also came up with a blocked field goal during the Chicago win.

Now, every one of the Bears' future opponents will have this play in the back of their head when preparing for the Bears' extra point attempts. It makes Chicago more difficult to prepare for.

Toub's creative playcalling has made the Bears' special teams' units one of the consistently best in the league during his eight years in Chicago. Devin Hester sustained a concussion during the win, so Toub's creativity might need to come out again as the Bears and Packers fight for the top of the NFC North standings.